Carter Lake–Ferry Drain, 5 lakes
4.8 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 37 min
Carter Lake–Ferry Drain, 5 lakes is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Thelma G. Spencer Park near Big Beaver, MI. The route passes Ferry Drain, Crystal Lake, Turtle Woods Preserve Beach and 2 more before reaching Thelma G. Spencer Park Beach at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Carter Lake–Ferry Drain, 5 lakes
4.8 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 37 min
Elevation 650–706 ft
Out & Back · Thelma G. Spencer Park
Trailhead: 42.59265, -83.11145
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:19 AM · sunset 7:33 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Ferry Drain.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 1.6 miPass Crystal Lake.
- 50 ftPass Turtle Woods Preserve Beach.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 100 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miPass Thelma G. Spencer Park Beach.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miPass Carter Lake.
- 50 ftPass Thelma G. Spencer Park Beach.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 400 ftBear left, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 350 ftReach Carter Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 200 ftBear right, heading E.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 1.7 miTurn right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~58 min). Leave by 6:16 PM for the 7:33 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Glowing Tree Overlook–Waterfall Pointe, 6 beaches 13.7 mi · ▲ 242 ft
- Holland Ponds Viewpoint–Ferry Drain, 5 beaches 14.5 mi · ▲ 245 ft
- Stoney Creek–Ferry Drain, 6 beaches 12.2 mi · ▲ 227 ft
- Turtle Viewpoint–Ferry Drain, 6 lakes 13.6 mi · ▲ 295 ft
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